top of page

FORGE-AI

Fostering innovation culture for a new generation
of Georgian AI research community

Programme ID: HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-03 (Horizon Europe)
Contract Number: 101216703
Financée par l'UE: Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program

Image_20260622_131846_088.webp

Who is it for 

  • Young AI Researchers: Georgian PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers, supported through training, mentoring, and 25 international secondments.

  • Universities and Research Institutions: GTU, TSU and other Georgian HEIs strengthening their AI capacity and European integration.

  • Early-Stage Innovators: Individuals building AI ventures, trained in entrepreneurship, funding, IP, and AI business models.

  • Policymakers and Industry: Institutions like GITA and SRNSF working on national AI policy and responsible AI.

The  Support Pillars

  • Advanced Training: Innovation training programmes covering startup fundamentals, AI solution design, EU AI Act & GDPR, IP, and responsible AI.

  • International Mobility: 28 secondments for young researchers with partners in Germany, France, and Armenia.

  • Open Knowledge Resources: An AI knowledge portal and openly available, reusable training materials.

  • Policy & Ecosystem Development: Structured dialogue with policymakers and industry to align national AI policy with EU standards.

Method & Benefits

  • Evidence-Based Design: Training built on a rapid needs analysis of Georgian researchers' urgent skill gaps.

  • Applied, Experiential Learning: Teamwork on AI Business Model Canvases and pitching sessions with international mentors.

  • Cross-Border Knowledge Transfer: Direct mentoring from DFKI (Germany) and Creative Cluster (France).

  • Sustainability: All materials openly licensed, with ICARTI granted rights to reuse and adapt them.

  • Proven Impact: 45+ participants in the first programme, with high satisfaction and clear gains in innovation skills.

Key Partner Contributions

  • Georgian Technical University (GTU): Coordinator — leads scientific coordination, training, mobility, and ecosystem development.

  • DFKI (Germany): Mentoring and expertise from Europe's leading AI research center.

  • Saarland University (Germany): Academic partnership and researcher training.

  • Creative Cluster (France): Innovation and entrepreneurship mentoring.

  • YerevaNN Research Lab (Armenia): Regional AI research collaboration.

  • GITA & SRNSF (Georgia): Innovation policy support and national research funding alignment.

bottom of page